Museums, archives and heritage in Argyll & Bute

Argyllshire, a maritime county in the W. of Scotland, including nearly all the islands of the Inner Hebrides. In extreme length the mainland extends about 112 miles S. from the boundary with Inverness-shire to the North Channel, and approaches the opposite coast of Ireland within a distance of 13 miles. Area, 3213.1 square miles. Population 76,468, or 24 persons to each square mile. The mainland is much indented by picturesque and far-reaching sea-lochs, which render its coast-line proportionately very great. The peninsula of Kintyre extends about 55 miles S. from the Crinan Canal to the Mull of Kintyre, and is from 5 miles to 10 miles broad. Ardnamurchan Point is the most westerly projection on the mainland of Scotland. The principal sea-lochs are Eil, Linnhe, Leven, Etive, and Firth of Lorne in the NW.; and Fyne, Striven, Long, and Goil branching from the Firth of Clyde. The sea views along the W. coast and among the islands are magnificent, while the loch and mountain scenery is everywhere grand and picturesque. The surface is nearly all rugged and mountainous, the low and arable land lying chiefly round the coasts. The highest summit is Ben Cruachan, altitude 3611 ft., in the NW. of the mainland. The largest lake is Loch Awe, which stretches for upwards of 20 miles S. from the base of Ben Cruachan. The arable land constitutes about one-eighth of the entire area. Slate is extensively quarried and exported. The fisheries are very important, especially the herring fishery on Loch Fyne. There are several large distilleries in Islay and at Campbeltown. Railway communication extends through Perthshire to Oban, on the NW. of Argyllshire. The county comprises the districts of Lochiel, Ardgour, Sunart, Ardnamuchan, and Morven in the NW. detached section; Lorn, Argyll, Cowal, Knapdale, and Kintyre in the main body; 37 parishes, parts of 3 other parishes, the parliamentary burghs of Campbeltown, Inveraray, and Oban (part of the Ayr Burghs).

– John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)

Note: see Hebrides for islands in Argyll.

Argyll & Bute Council Archives

Manse Brae Area Office

Lochgilphead PA31 8QU

01546 604774

goo.gl/3yibxi

The Archives (records office) holds and preserves the official records of Argyll and Bute Council and also the records of the organisations whose functions the council inherited. These organisations include: the Commissioners of Supply, parish councils, burgh councils, schools, school boards, Argyll County Council and Bute County Council.

Auchindrain Museum

By Inveraray PA32 8XN

01499 500235

auchindrain.org.uk

Farm townships like Auchindrain were once common throughout Scotland and indeed much of Europe. Today only Auchindrain survives as an exceptionally complete, evolved group of farm buildings, dating from the period 1750-1840.

Bute Museum

7 Stuart Street, (by Rothesay Castle), Rothesay

Isle of Bute PA20 0BX

01700 505067

www.butemuseum.org.uk

In this busy museum, situated behind the castle, you can experience the archaeology, history, natural history and geology of the Isle of Bute. It offers an extensive display of birds and mammals etc found on the island, and a wild flower display throughout the summer.

Campbeltown Museum

Hall Street

Campbeltown PA28 6BJ

01586 552366

www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/node/32683

Campbeltown Museum occupies a sizeable room in an A-listed building which also houses the local public library. The initiative to establish a library and museum was came in 1896 from the Kintyre Scientific Association, today still active as the Kintyre Antiquarian and Natural History Society.

Castle House Museum

Castle Gardens

Dunoon PA23 7HH

01369 701422

www.castlehousemuseum.org.uk

The Castle House Museum, which has been open since 1998, is one of Dunoon’s most historic locations. Dunoon became a holiday resort when Lord Provost Ewing of Glasgow bought the land around the ruined medieval castle and built himself a holiday home.

Glencoe & North Lorn Folk Museum

Glencoe Village

Glencoe PH39 4HP

01855 811 664

www.glencoemuseum.com

The Glencoe Folk Museum was co-founded in 1966 with the aim ‘To collect, preserve and exhibit articles, costume, objects and information, relevant to the history and social conditions of the Glencoe and North Lorn district for the purposes of education and interest’.

Hill House, The

The Hill House, Upper Colquhoun Street

Helensburgh G84 9AJ

0844 493 2208

www.nts.org.uk/Property/The-Hill-House

The Hill House is considered to be Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s finest domestic creation. Sitting high above the Clyde, it is home to original Mackintosh furniture and interior design and also has attractive formal gardens designed recognisably in the Mackintosh style.

Inveraray Jail & County Court

Church Square, Inveraray

Argyll PA32 8TX

01499 302381

www.inverarayjail.co.uk

Inveraray Jail is a living museum and top Scottish visitor attraction where real people portray life in a 19th century prison. Interact with costumed characters, watch courtroom trials, talk to the prisoners, meet the Warder, go to jail and witness cell life, sample the punishments, browse the exhibition of prison artefacts, then make your escape.

Iona Abbey & Nunnery – Historic Scotland

Island of Iona PA76 6SQ

www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/places

Founded by St Columba in 563, the restored abbey and monastic buildings retain their spiritual atmosphere, and house a superb collection of over 180 medieval carved stones, from high crosses to pillow stones.

Islay Family History Society

Islay House Square, Bridgend

Isle of Islay PA44 7NZ

01496 810 187

goo.gl/mNPUdB

From May to September, volunteers man the society’s office at Highfield, High Street, Bowmore, Isle of Islay.

Kilmartin House Museum

Kilmartin House Museum

Kilmartin PA31 8RQ

01546 510278

www.kilmartin.org

There are more than 350 ancient monuments within a six-mile radius of the village of Kilmartin, Argyll: 150 of them are prehistoric. This extraordinary concentration and diversity of monuments distinguishes the Kilmartin Glen as an area of outstanding archaeological importance.

Lismore Museum & Heritage Centre

Port a’ Charrain PA34 5UL

www.celm.org.uk

A stunning ecologically friendly building, opened in March 2007, housing a museum charting island life throughout the ages. On the same site is an award winning 19th century Cottar’s Cottage, fully restored, a time warp of island life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; a library/research and conference room; a gift shop and café.

MacDougall Collection

Dunollie House

Oban PA34 5TT

01631 570550

goo.gl/TNKCks

Not yet a museum, but a museum collection with a vigorous outreach programme. The private collection of the late Miss Hope MacDougall, comprising some 5000 objects.

Mount Stuart

Isle of Bute PA20 9LR

01700 503877

www.mountstuart.com

The spirit of 19th-century invention is embodied in Mount Stuart – a feat of Victorian engineering, this neo-gothic mansion was one of the most technologically advanced houses of its age. Truly a house of firsts, we believe Mount Stuart was the first home in the world to have a heated indoor swimming pool, and the first in Scotland to be purpose built with electric light, central heating, a telephone system and a Victorian passenger lift – most of which are still in use today.

Museum of Islay Life

Port Charlotte

Isle of Islay PA48 7UA

01496 850 358

www.islaymuseum.org

The museum building is the former Free Church in Port Charlotte, and after restoration opened to the public in 1977. Since then, with the generous help of islanders donating material of all kinds, the museum has built up a main collection of over 2700 objects as diverse as stone implements used in the Mesolithic era, Victorian and Edwardian items from the Laird’s house, farming implements, everything necessary for an illicit still, relics from shipping disasters, over 1200 books, very substantial paper archives, including much unique material, and nearly 5000 photographs, some dating back more than 100 years.

Oban War & Peace Museum

Old Oban Times Building, Corran Esplanade

Oban PA34 5PX

01631 570007

www.obanmuseum.org.uk

Oban War and Peace Museum boasts interesting collection of artefacts and photographs showing many aspects of life in Oban and the area through the years, including information on the strategic role played by the area during WWII when Oban Bay was home to Flying Boats. Find out about old Oban, the ferries, the fishing and maritime industries, the railway and local sport. There is a fine collection of Military badges and probably the largest Flying Boat model in Scotland.

Ross of Mull Historical Centre

Millbrae Cottage, Bunessan

Isle of Mull PA67 6DG

01681 700 659

www.romhc.org.uk

Museum relating to the history of the region. Includes geneaological resources, documentation on local issues, maps and information relating to the Ross of Mull.

Skerryvore Lighthouse Museum

Lower Square

Hynish, Isle of Tiree PA77 6UQ

01865 311468

goo.gl/e9PTta

Tisit the Story of Skerryvore Lighthouse exhibition to find out how the heroic engineers and keepers built and maintained Scotland’s tallest lighthouse, Skerryvore, on one of Britain’s most dangerous rocks, over 10 nautical miles out to sea. This exhibition records the fascinating account of the hazardous Skerryvore reef and the design and construction of the lighthouse by Alan Stevenson, uncle of Robert Louis Stevenson. It features unique examples of industrial archaeology, a scale model of the lighthouse and interpretation material of general and educational interest.

Strachur Smiddy Museum

The Clachan

Strachur PA27 8DG

01369 860565

www.strachursmiddy.org.uk

The building in which this small museum is housed has been owned and operated for four generations by the Montgomery family as the local blacksmiths. The contents have remained virtually untouched since the last iron was set down and the building was closed for commercial use. The museum therefore contains tools, clothing and equipment that would have been used as part of the blacksmiths day to day work.